Conversion of stereolithographic model into logical subcomponents

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for converting a stereolithographic model into an STL data file that defines logically related components and subcomponents of an object. A user can categorize elements of an object to form logically related components and subcomponents of the object. Each element is represented by a triangle. All triangles representing each of these components and subcomponents are then reordered and listed sequentially within the STL. Each list is delimited at the beginning and end by two hidden triangles, one or both of which store unique identification values that are associated with the respective individual components. Additionally, a reference table can be added to the STL. The reference table includes instructions, operations or other information that is specifically associated with each component and subcomponent using the unique identification values. These instructions and operations enable users to have better control over 3D print quality than is possible using existing techniques.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented data processing method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, facet data representing a stereolithographic model, the facet data including a plurality of visible facets each representing a visible surface of the stereolithographic model; 
 associating at least one of the visible facets with a component of the stereolithographic model; 
 reordering, by the processor, a portion of the facet data each of the visible facets associated with the component is listed sequentially; 
 assigning a unique identification value to the component; 
 delimiting, by the processor, the reordered portion of the facet data with at least one of a beginning facet and an ending facet containing the unique identification value, the beginning facet and the ending facet each representing an invisible surface of the stereolithographic model, wherein the visible surface includes facets that are to be rendered or printed, and wherein the invisible surface excludes facets that are to be rendered or printed; and 
 generating, by the processor, reference table data representing a mapping between the unique identification value and custom data associated with the component, wherein the custom data includes a method, operation or transformation that can be applied to a component of the stereolithographic model. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing an operation on each of the visible facets associated with the component until a hidden triangle is reached, which marks the end of the component, wherein the custom data represents the operation. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing an operation on each of the visible facets associated with the component until a hidden triangle is reached, which marks the end of the component, according to a priority or weight associated with the component, and wherein the custom data represents the operation and the priority or weight. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing at least one of a re-meshing operation, a search/extract/delete operation, and an unwrapping operation on each of the visible facets associated with the component, until a hidden triangle is reached, which marks the end of the component. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising appending the reordered portion of the facet data to the reference table data. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the reordered portion of the facet data in a Standard Tessellation Language (STL) file format. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising viewing or printing the stereolithographic model using the reordered portion of the facet data. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the visible facets includes data representing a unit normal vector and three vertices in Cartesian space. 
     
     
       9. A system comprising:
 a storage; and 
 a processor operatively coupled to the storage, the processor execute instructions stored in the storage that when executed cause the processor to carry out a process comprising: 
 receiving facet data representing a stereolithographic model, the facet data including a plurality of visible facets each representing a visible surface of the stereolithographic model; 
 associating at least one of the visible facets with a component of the stereolithographic model; 
 reordering a portion of the facet data each of the visible facets associated with the component is listed sequentially; 
 assigning a unique identification value to the component; 
 delimiting the reordered portion of the facet data with at least one of a beginning facet and an ending facet containing the unique identification value, the beginning facet and the ending facet each representing an invisible surface of the stereolithographic model, wherein the visible surface includes facets that are to be rendered or printed, and wherein the invisible surface excludes facets that are to be rendered or printed; and 
 generating reference table data representing a mapping between the unique identification value and custom data associated with the component, wherein the custom data includes a method, operation or transformation that can be applied to a component of the stereolithographic model. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the process includes performing an operation on each of the visible facets associated with the component until a hidden triangle is reached, which marks the end of the component, and wherein the custom data represents the operation. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the process includes performing an operation on each of the visible facets associated with the component until a hidden triangle is reached, which marks the end of the component, according to a priority or weight associated with the component, and wherein the custom data represents the operation and the priority or weight. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the process includes performing at least one of a re-meshing operation, a search/extract/delete operation, and an unwrapping operation on each of the visible facets associated with the component until a hidden triangle is reached, which marks the end of the component. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the process includes appending the reordered portion of the facet data to the reference table data. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the process includes storing the reordered portion of the facet data in a Standard Tessellation Language (STL) file format. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the process includes viewing or printing the stereolithographic model using the reordered portion of the facet data. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the visible facets includes data representing a unit normal vector and three vertices in Cartesian space. 
     
     
       17. A non-transient computer program product having instructions encoded thereon that when executed by one or more processors cause a process to be carried out, the process comprising:
 receiving facet data representing a stereolithographic model, the facet data including a plurality of visible facets each representing a visible surface of the stereolithographic model; 
 associating at least one of the visible facets with a component of the stereolithographic model; 
 reordering a portion of the facet data such that each of the visible facets associated with the component is listed sequentially; 
 assigning a unique identification value to the component; 
 delimiting the reordered portion of the facet data with at least one of a beginning facet and an ending facet containing the unique identification value, the beginning facet and the ending facet each representing an invisible surface of the stereolithographic model, wherein the visible surface includes facets that are to be rendered or printed, and wherein the invisible surface excludes facets that are to be rendered or printed; and 
 generating reference table data representing a mapping between the unique identification value and custom data associated with the component, wherein the custom data includes a method, operation or transformation that can be applied to a component of the stereolithographic model. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the process includes performing an operation on each of the visible facets associated with the component until a hidden triangle is reached, which marks the end of the component. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the process includes performing an operation on each of the visible facets associated with the component until a hidden triangle is reached, which marks the end of the component, according to a priority or weight associated with the component. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the process includes appending the reordered portion of the facet data to the reference table data.